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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Girl name help!

30 replies

catmum789 · 10/11/2021 15:19

Really struggling with girl names, we like the below but not sure how popular they are. I have a very popular name and as a result lots of people in my class at school had the same name and I hated it! The names we like are:

-Elodie
-Dorothy
-Willow
-Darcey

Please could you also advise which names you prefer out of these or alternatives!! Having a meltdown Sad

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NoKandoo · 13/11/2021 19:58

Final suggestion from me: Delphine?

(Though I prefer Fleur).

NoKandoo · 13/11/2021 19:57

I'd be tempted by Fleur. A good literary pedigree, and not common (as in 'not over-used').

catmum789 · 13/11/2021 19:44

Wow a lot of food for thought! I love some of the name suggestions, thank you so much for suggesting new names and what works and what doesn't it's really helpful! I didn't think about nicknames or variations of spellings so that's so helpful me and DP have put them on our list and we are going to keep referring to bump as names in the list and see what sticks best! Thank you !!Star

OP posts:
OneDayInMyLife · 13/11/2021 18:02

Melody ?

I love Willow.

shawnaander · 13/11/2021 17:56

Elodie and Darcey are lovely names but Elodie feels the most timeless.

Some suggestions
Heidi
Daphne
Colette
Athena
Felicity
Mallory
Simone
Celine
Laurel
Juliet
Noelle
Fleur
Lorelei
Autumn
Gemma
Eloise
Mara
Laney
Celeste
Farrah
Esme

There are many websites where you can see how popular a name is.

LozMarieFielder · 13/11/2021 08:51

Elodie has been rapidly increase in the Uk since 2007, but it is so so so lovely. It is now at 96.

Dorothy is nice, but I prefer Dorothea. It should be due a comeback in 3-5 years, and is currently at 175.

Apparently Willow is popular now and is almost in the top girls names. It’s pretty, but I don’t love it.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Darcey. It has been slowly decreasing over the years. It was at 72 (it’s peak) in 2014 and is now at 127.

All are lovely names, my favourites being Elodie and Darcey.

Fivebeanchilli · 13/11/2021 07:50

Elodie - I like it but I agree with those who say that, whilst it's not popular in itself, it's just another El- name
-Dorothy - I really like this. I know a 20 year old with this name and a baby (and several old ladies). I think it will become more popular but I don't think it will become super popular
-Willow - it's ok. I want to like this more than I do.
-Darcey - I dislike this. It's also quite dated and quite popular.

I would pick Dorothy. Second choice would be Elodie probably.

CelebrateAndDream · 13/11/2021 07:14

Not keen on any of those OP, sorry.

Similarly old fashioned names with a nicer ring to them though:

Hettie
Thea
Georgia/Georgina

BeKindBeYou · 13/11/2021 07:05

Out of those names, I’d go for Dorothy - simply beautiful and I love Dot/Dotty as a nickname.

emma342 · 11/11/2021 01:52

I love Elodie and Willow! Beautiful names

NoKandoo · 10/11/2021 23:28

I quite like Elodie, but it's a bit faddy and will date (like Amelie and). Quite like Dorothy, but prefer Dorothea

Willow and Darcy are going/have gone very downmarket and will date big time

@Luredbyapomegranate nails it.

Agree that Felicity makes a change - it keeps appearing on here, but I don't know many in real life.

Clarissa?

TeeTotaller1 · 10/11/2021 23:22

Edie
Ava
Etta
Elsie
Rosa

WeasilyPleased · 10/11/2021 22:50

I like Dorothy best. I can't use it because my husband refuses to say th properly. He says it's more relaxing as f Hmm

blameitonthecaffeine · 10/11/2021 21:32

I think they're all reasonably popular but not ridiculously so.

I like Elodie and Darcey.

I do like Willow but I would worry about the child being teased if they turned out not to be willowy.
Less keen on Dorothy - it still seems quite old lady to me although I know it's very trendy now.

I think Elodie, Darcey and Willow belong in the same sort of style of names and would say others like them include:
Ava, Aimee, Alyssa, Amelie, Bella, Chloe, Cleo, Caitlyn, Daisy, Emily, Evie, Freya, Gracie, Georgia, Holly, Hallie, Isabella, Isla, Jessica, Jasmine, Katie, Lily, Lucy, Layla, Lola, Luna, Matilda, Mia, Molly, Millie, Olivia, Phoebe, Poppy, Ruby, Rosie, Sienna, Sylvie, Sophie, Sophia, Tilly, Zoe

I think Dorothy is a bit different and think it is in the same style as names like:
Annie, Agnes, Agatha, Bonnie, Betty, Betsy, Carrie, Daphne, Elsie, Esme, Edie, Edith, Flora, Florence, Greta, Hazel, Harriet, Ivy, Iris, Joyce, Jocelyn, Lydia, Louisa, Maggie, Martha, Mary, Maisie, Nancy, Nora, Nell, Olive, Peggy, Polly, Queenie, Ruth, Rose, Rosemary, Susan, Stella, Tabitha, Teresa, Violet, Winifred

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/11/2021 20:50

Yes, if you'd like less popular "ee" or "oh" ending names (or at least to get in while they are still rising but not in the top 100) -

Cleo, Juno have a similar feel to Willow imo,
Sylvie, Coralie, Rosalie similar to Elodie,
Audrey to Dorothy?,

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/11/2021 20:07

I quite like Elodie, but it's a bit faddy and will date (like Amelie and). Quite like Dorothy, but prefer Dorothea.

Willow and Darcy are going/have gone very downmarket and will date big time.

Verity
Felicity
Cecily
Ismene
Ione
Circe
Rosemary
Xanthe
Ianthe
Polly
Mary
Zoe
Chloe
Assuming you want an ee sound at the end..

MomoMojito · 10/11/2021 19:48

If you'd rather avoid popular names, I wouldn't go with Elodie, or anything starting with El-

Darcey also strikes me as a name that will become dated

My favourites are Dorothy (lovely) or Willow (more cool than nice sounding in itself, little bit popular but probably not too badly so)

Hetyanni · 10/11/2021 19:42

Dorothy is the least common I think, Elodie is my favourite by far.

MyMILisLovely · 10/11/2021 19:36

Dorothy is increasing in popularity but isn't much used

I know a few Elodies and don't much like it

DramaAlpaca · 10/11/2021 19:35

I love Elodie and Dorothy.

The other two, not so keen.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/11/2021 19:32

Willow would be my choice - it is fairly popular but at least sounds distinct from other names in the top 100, plus it's a beautiful name imo.

Elodie is nice and would be my 2nd choice - it's well known but not super popular yet (although on the rise), but yes you might risk "Ellie" which is much more commonplace.

Dorothy is retro/vintage/"old lady" trendy so not my taste, sorry and Darcey is both very popular and has spelling issues.

MW92 · 10/11/2021 16:11

Elodie is lovely and I’ve never met anyone with that name. There are a lot of Willow and Darcey in my children’s school, very popular. I love the names Walker and Layne for a girl💕 I’m sure which ever you decide on you will forever love. Good luck.

RuthW · 10/11/2021 15:48

Love the first three. Darcey is the most popular and is dated now.

MissBPotter · 10/11/2021 15:44

I love Dorothy, it was on our list. It’s not that popular yet. Willow seems very popular around here. Have you seen the website dark greener? It shows you the trends for all names.

EileenGC · 10/11/2021 15:42

Willow is my favourite out of those